Old Lyme – The kitchen of The Grille restaurant was badly damaged Friday following a fire that was discovered inside the walls.

The Old Lyme Fire Department was called out to 100 Shore Road (Route 156) shortly before 2 p.m. when the owner reported smoke in the building.

Firefighters at the scene pulled apart a portion of the kitchen wall to find fire inside, according to Old Lyme Deputy Fire Chief Steve Super. Firefighters were forced to tear into the wall from inside and through the roof from the outside to extinguish the fire.

Super said they were able to stop the spread of the fire before it got into the ceiling void space or an apartment above the restaurant.

"If nobody had been here, the outcome would have been a little bit different," Super said.

No injuries were reported but the kitchen suffered significant fire, smoke and water damage. Super said the state Department of Health responded because of the food on the premises.

The local fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

Owner Barbara Woods said it is her third year in business. It remains unclear when she will be able to reopen.

Old Lyme called on mutual aid from fire departments in Old Saybrook, Essex and Lyme.